Morphology of the lingual papillae in the leopard.

We microscopically examined the dorsal lingual surface of an old leopard (Panthera pardus). The filiform papillae on the lingual apex were dome-shaped. The connective tissue cores of the filiform papillae resembled a well in shape, while those of the fungiform papillae were not hollow. The filiform papillae on the anterior part of the lingual body were large and cylindrical in shape. The connective tissue cores of these filiform papillae consisted of large conical papillae. The filiform papillae on the central part of the lingual body were large and conical-shaped. The connective tissue cores of the filiform papillae consisted of a large main process. The vallate papillae were surrounded by grooves. The top of the connective tissue core of the vallate papilla had many ditches. These findings are peculiar to the tongue of members of the family Felidae.